John Still goes from cheerleader to leader of the pack

History man: Dagenham manager John Still is looking to take the club into League One for the first time

When Dagenham and Redbridge last played at Wembley in the 1997 FA Trophy Final, John Still was in the stands, wearing his replica shirt and cheering the Daggers on.

Thirteen years later he will lead his side out at Wembley as they look to seal promotion to League One for the first time.

Rotherham stand in their way in Sunday's play-off final but Dagenham are the team in form, having hammered Morecambe 7-2 on aggregate in the semi-final. And just three years after they became a Football League club for the first time, Still admits the speed and scale of the club's transformation has taken even him by surprise.

"This is a boy's own story for me," said Still, who is six years into his second spell as manager.

"To have supported a club, played for them, then returned as manager to take them into the Football League and maybe even League One — it sounds soppy when you talk to people who don't understand football but I'm so proud. I wasn't involved with the club in 1997 but I went to Wembley when Dagenham lost 1-0 against Woking. I had my Dagenham shirt on and I went with some pals. I don't wear the replica shirt anymore but my son and my two daughters do.

"Whoever is writing this story, I don't think it's finished yet. When I set out on this journey my task was to establish Dagenham as a Football League club and the next task is to see how far we can take them. On Sunday we can take them to another level."